Ravi Gurnani, Director, York Winery
The reason Ravi Gurnani is so confident about domestic sparkling wines is that they are able to strike a balance between good quality and reasonable prices. He insists that our sparkling wines can certainly match up to their imported rivals in the department of quality.
York at present has one sparkling wine in the market. The York Sparkling Cuvee Brut is a Blanc de Blanc-style wine made from Chenin Blanc. It is light, fruity and easy to drink, and being a 100 per cent Chenin Blanc sparkling wine, it has a slightly different character, which sets it apart from the sparklers in its competitive set produced by Sula, Chandon and Grover Zampa. It is retailed in Maharashtra (MRP: Rs 1,050), Rajasthan (MRP: Rs 1,215) and Delhi (MRP: Rs 1,050), but it sells the most in Mumbai and of course, at the winery’s Tasting Room.
The good news, according to Gurnani, is that the sparkling wine category has grown significantly in the last two years, thanks to the entry of different brands, but it still remains a celebratory drink. The other good news is that sparkling wine consumers are showing a higher level of awareness of and appreciation for quality wines. And they opt for those sparkling wines that come with a brand heritage and also score on taste and price. In the case of champagne, though, the category is feeling the heat from proseccos and cavas because their price points are more accessible.
Champagne and other sparkling wines, at present, are portfolio products consumed mainly at
“We need more active promotions to make consumers aware that sparkling wines do not necessarily need to be popped on big occasions, but can be had for day-to-day drinking.”
celebrations and parties. Only when they become accompaniments to meals, will the category see a real boost in consumption. There’s clearly a case, according to Gurnani, for active promotions to make consumers aware that sparkling wines do not necessarily need to be popped on big occasions, but can be had for day-to-day drinking as well.